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Bill Summary · SB 888

Summary of SB 888 (Session 2025) – North Carolina

Immigration Data Privacy

Date Filed: April 28, 2026
Primary Sponsors: Senators Murdock and Theodros

1. Purpose and Intent

SB 888 establishes restrictions on the dissemination of immigration-related data by North Carolina state departments, agencies, and institutions. The bill aims to protect individuals’ immigration data from being shared for civil immigration enforcement purposes unless specific conditions are met. It also creates reporting requirements and provides an appropriation to fund implementation.

2. Key Provisions

A. Prohibition on Dissemination of Immigration Data

  • New Article 4, Immigration Data Privacy, within Chapter 64.
  • Section 64-70: Release of immigration data
    • State departments/agencies/institutions may not disseminate immigration-related data to any federal, state, or local government entity, law enforcement officer, or law enforcement agency for civil immigration enforcement purposes unless:
    • The subject of the information provides consent.
    • The requesting agency presents a lawful judicial order, subpoena, or warrant.
    • When fulfilling a lawful judicial order/subpoena/warrant, the information disclosed must be limited to what is specifically requested.
    • Within three business days of receiving a data request, the responding department must notify the individual whose data was requested, including the identity of the requesting entity.

B. Reporting Requirements

  • Section 64-71: Documentation and annual reporting of data requests
    • Departments/agencies/institutions that receive immigration data requests must document and retain information about the request.
    • An annual report must be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General including:
    • Total number of immigration data requests.
    • Name of the requesting agency/department.
    • Resolution of the request.
    • Type of legal authority cited by the requesting agency.

3. Appropriation and Funding (Part II)

A. Funding

  • Section 2.1: General Fund appropriation to the Office of State Budget and Management
    • $1,500,000 (recurring) starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
    • Purpose: Implementation of SB 888 across State departments and agencies.

B. Allowable Uses of Funds

Funds may be used for:
1. IT updates to restrict, track, and audit access to identifying information.
2. Development of data governance and privacy compliance systems (logging/reporting).
3. Training of state agency personnel on the act’s requirements.
4. Staffing and administrative costs for compliance, oversight, and reporting.
5. Preparation and publication of annual reports required under the act.

C. Reporting on Use of Funds

  • Agencies receiving funds must report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government by April 1, 2027, detailing use of funds and implementation progress.

4. Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: The act becomes law upon enactment (immediate effect once signed).
  • Notification Requirement: Within three business days of a data request, individuals must be notified about the request and who requested it.
  • Annual Reporting: Ongoing annual reporting requirements on data requests to the AGO, with the first detailed report due after implementation (exact first-year timing inferred from annual cycle; the bill requires reporting dates as specified).
  • Funding Timeline: Recurring funding begins in the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

5. Who is Affected

  • State departments, agencies, and institutions in North Carolina that hold immigration-related data.
  • Law enforcement and other government entities requesting immigration data for civil enforcement purposes.
  • Individuals whose immigration data may be requested.
  • The Office of the Attorney General (receiving annual reports).
  • Agencies responsible for implementing data privacy, governance, and IT enhancements funded by the act.

6. Potential Impacts

  • Strengthened protections against the routine sharing of immigration data for civil enforcement without consent or a court order.
  • Increased transparency and oversight through annual reporting and an explicit notification requirement to individuals.
  • Requirement for state agencies to invest in privacy infrastructure, governance, and training.
  • Clear funding path to support implementation and ongoing compliance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a one-page briefing for policymakers or a comparison with similar privacy protections in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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